The Pasig City Council approved a scholarship program catering to indigent students in private schools in the city in order to forge more paths to inclusive education for young Pasiguenos. Ordinance No. 118, series of 2023 or the Private Education for the Advancement of the Grassroots through Academic Scholarship Assistance, or PAG-ASA scholarship program seeks to provide financial aid to students whose families cannot afford to pay for their college education. The PAG-ASA scholarship program will enable the local government to shoulder the tuition fees and allowances of its private school scholars. It works to complement the existing Pasig City Scholarship Program (PCSP) of the local government for public school students. Photo from Dodot Jaworski / MANILA BULLETIN
In a special session on Wednesday, July 26, the City Council approved the ordinance, sponsored by the entire council, on its third and final reading. It was referred to the Committee on Education, and Committee on Laws, Rules, and Internal Government on July 12, and was passed on second reading during the regular session on July 25. Councilor Corazon Raymundo reported, during the committee hearing, that two schools namely the Pasig Catholic College (PCC) and Arellano University (AU) have expressed support for the program, with the former stating that it would help keep the school afloat amid dwindling enrollment numbers, and the latter believing that it would fulfill the schools’ objectives for its students. The program is expected to be implemented this coming academic year (AY) 2023 to 2024. In terms of eligibility, Raymundo noted some preliminary eligibility requirements for the scholarship that were discussed in the hearing, which include family income not exceeding P30,000 per month. Award beneficiaries should not exceed P35,000 per semester, and there should be a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the local government and the participating higher educational institutions (HEIs), she added. The agreement pertains to Resolution No. 340–2023, which will authorize the government to enter into and sign MOAs with private HEIs for the purpose of implementing the PAG-ASA scholarship program. Although representatives of the PCC and AU were guest speakers at the committee hearings, other HEIs located in Pasig City are open to partner with the city government for the PAG-ASA scholarship program. The program will initially run on a pilot basis, wherein it will be fine-tuned throughout its implementation. “It is with great pride and pleasure and honor to be a part of this landmark ordinance that promises to be a lifechanger for the lives of our young people and their families,” said Raymundo. Councilor Quin Cruz also noted the importance of the program to help private educational institutions recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. On his social media page, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski expressed his elation for the passage of the ordinance. “Mas maraming kabataang Pasigueño ang mabibigyan ng pagkataon na matapos ang kanilang pag-aaral. Personal po nating tinututukan ang bawat hakbang para maisakatuparan ito. Sinisiguro ng ating Sangguniang Panlungsod na de-kalidad ang mangyayaring proseso (More young Pasiguenos will be given more chances to pursue their studies. I personally oversaw this policy every step of the way until it is fulfilled. The City Council ensures that an efficient process will be followed),” said Jaworski. “Ang kagandahan po sa scholarship program natin, kahit sinong maupo na Mayor o Vice Mayor, tuloy ang scholarship. Ang pagkakataon na makapag-aral ay hindi nakadepende sa kung sinong pulitiko ang sinusuportahan (The beauty of our scholarship program is whoever sits as Mayor or Vice Mayor, the program continues. The opportunities afforded to students are not dependent on political support or allegiance),” he added. Since August 2022, [Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has expressed the local government’s plans to help private school students and private schools survive the pandemic.](https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/08/pasig-city-expands-scholarship-program) It supported around 2,000 private school students under the PCSP. With the new PAG-ASA scholarship program, scholarships for students in private HEIs would be more focused and collaborative. The PCSP serves over 20,000 scholars since 2020.